Press cut-off



C. A. BRAUN PRESS CUT-0FF 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 23, 1927 April 7, 1931. c. A; BRAUN 1,800,005

' I PRESS GUT-OFF Filed Nov. 23, 1927 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 i W n" INVENTOR HISA ORNEYS C. A. BRAUN April "1,1931.

PRESS CUT-OFF 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Nov. 23 192'? If -i 1 i1 IE5:

INVENTOR HIS AT ORNEYS April 1931- c. A. BRAUN 1,800,005

I PRESS GUT-OFF Filed Nov. 23,1927 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 ms ATzoRNEYs Patented Apr. 7, 1931 UNITED STATES- .PATENT OFFICE CARL A. BRAUN, O1 TOLEDO, OHIO, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, T STEEL AND TUBES, INC., 01 CLEVELAND, OHIO, .A- CORPORATION OF OHIO PRESS cur-oar Application filed November 23, 1927. SerialNo. 235,283.

This invention relates to apparatus-for severing rapidly traveling metallic articles such as tubing and the like, into predetermined scribed which is capable of cutting a tube into parts of uniform, predetermined length as rapidly as it is formed commercially by any tube forming method and in which the advantages ota punch press are combined with the advantages of propulsion by the articles to be severed.

. Another object is to construct a device of the class described which includes a simple cut off apparatus free from the disadvantages of movin parts of great weight and a multiplioity 0 complicated actuating devices requiring a high degree of accuracy in adjust- 4 ment and operation.

A further important obect is to construct a device of the character escribed in which means is provided for utilizing the thrust of the traveling article to be severed for actuating the severing mechanism while preventing distortion or wrinkling of the tube at the severed end and undue friction between the end of the uncut tube and the cutting blade during the return stroke of the latter.

Other ob ects ancillary to the foregoing will appear and bev pointed out hereinafter.

Although this invention is ap licable to articles including solid and hol ow forms composed of various metallic materials and I of various cross-sectional configurations, it

has been found highly advantageous in the manufacture of cylindrical steel tubing. By suitably constructing the moving parts of a device embodying my invention, tubes of such materials and configurations and having gauges and diameters ranging thruout the entire field now covered, for example, by commercial electric welding, can be severed into pieces of uniform .fiedetermined len th as rapidly as formed. oreover, with such suitable parts, tubing traveling at any speed within the range now common, for example, in commercial electric welding, can be severed into piecesof uniform predetermined length; and the lengths of such pieces can be varied over substantially the entire range of commercial tube lengths, provided however that with the shorter len hs the speed of travel of the tubing is suita 1y selected.

In the drawings accompanying and constituting a part of this specification Figures 1 and 2 are respectively top plan and side elevational views of one form of apparatus embodying my invention and showing fragmentarily a machine. Figures 3 and 4 are re pectively fragmentary right side and rear e d elevations of the cut oil mechanism shown in Figures 1 and 2.

Figure 5 is a vertical, fragmentary, sectional view taken on line 5--5 of Figure 4.-

Figure 6 isa horizontal sectional view taken on line 66 of Figure t; o

Figure 7 is a vertical, view partly in section taken on line 7-7 of Figure 5 but showing the press in open position that is at the end of the stroke opposite to that shown in Figure 5.

Fi 'ure 8 is a wiring diagram showin the circuits, breakers, solenoid, etc., as employed in the illustrated device.

In the foregoing figures I have illustrated one form of apparatus embodying my invention. This apparatus is shown arranged in operative position with respect to an electric tube welding machine with which the said apparatus may advantageously beused, though, it will be understood that it may be employed with tubing formed by other means and welded, unwelded, butted or seamless. Previously form'e articles may thus be cut by apparatus embodying my invention, it only being necessary to propel the uncut article forwardly with suflicient force to actuate the cut-off mechanism constituting my invention.

In the drawings, A designates a fragmentary part of an electric tube welding machine part of a welding from which welded tube B is propelled to the apparatus C embodying my present invention, in which the tubing B is severed into pieces of predetermined uniform length. It will be understood that any preferred form of tube welding apparatus may be used as the apparatus designated by A, for example, such apparatus as is shown in the patent to Lloyd No. 1,027,865 issued May 28, 1912, or in the patent to Johnston No. 1388, 134 issued August 23, 1921. The tubing B formed by this welding machine A is delivered therefrom in continuous or relatively long lengths. Suitable rolls in the welding machine propel the tubing forwardly so that when it reaches the apparatus C it is being positively propelled from the welding apparatus A at a certain fixed speed and with considerable force. The apparatus G about to be described in de tail is so constructed that it may be actuated by the traveling tube even when the tube is composed of thin gauge metal and has a smalll diameter. With such tubing less force is required to produce buckling or bending of the tubing than with heavier gauge metals and larger diameter tubes.

Apparatus G, as shown herein, may be briefly described as comprising a tube-actuated, punch press cut-ofi' mechanism and certain associated parts are actuate-d by and move synchronously with the tubing that is to be severed. The parts moved by the tubing are of fairly light weight, so designed as to move freely and without unnecessary friction and are actuated wherever necessary by simple, substantially positive means conthe tube B.

More particularly apparatus C comprises, in the embodiment here shown, a punch press having a base portion 2, a table 3 and upright portions 4: carrying a crank-shaft 5 to which it attached. a reciprocable press-head 6 and a flywheel 7 together with clutch-mechanism of the ordinary type (not shown in detail) by which the crankshaft may be tripped so that it will make one complete'revolution. The head 6- is fitted with a forwardly extending v plate 9 provided with a dove-tailed slide 10 in which die closing member 11 is mounted for movement relative thereto. The die closing member 11 consists of a base portion 11a The press table 3 is provided with atop 141 and has on its upper surface elongated holes 15 to accommodate the portions 111) of the die-closer when the member 11 is in positions at or near the lower end of theirstroke. The table 14 is also provided with a central opening or groove 15a in its top surface in which rods 16a and 16?) are mounted to reciprocateu These rods, which will presently be described in more detail, are secured within the recess 15a as by means of nuts 16c and 160? or the like, to depending lugs 17a and 17?) respectively integral with a carriage18 slidable on top 14 and provided on opposite sides thereof with fixed brackets 19 suitably spaced apart to engage opposite sides of the depending portions 11?) of the die-closer 11. By means of these brackets 19 longitudinal movement of the rods 16 may be transmitted by way of the lugs 17a and 17bto carriage 18 and to the die-closer 11, while at the same time the die-closer 11 may be permitted to move vertically with respect to the carriage 18. The carriage 18 carries between the brackets 19 a suitable member, in this case comprising dies or clamps slidable crosswise of the carriage 18 in suitable guide-ways, adapted to grip or clamp around tubing B which is to be severed. These dies or clamps preferably comprise two pair of dies 21 and two die holders 22, the dies being suitably secured, one pair in each of the die holders 22. The holders'22 are each slidable on the carriage 18 in a horizontal plane transversely of the line of travel of tube B and are provided with a roller 23 which is mounted to revolve about a shaft 24 which has a bearing in a pair of eccentric, end-supporting bushings or bearings 25 each flanged at one end as at 26. Each of the flanges 26 is perforated at intervals to receive set screws or similar positioning means 28. These bushings 25 are rotatably mounted in the die-holders 22 and by means of the cap screw 28 can be disposed in any desired position as regards the outer cam or eccentric surface 27 thereof which as will be readily understood from Figures 6 and 7 will result in positioning the roller shaft 24 closer to or more remote from the holders 22. These rollers 24; are disposed in alignment with the portions 116 of member 11 and are engaged by the wedges 12 so that when the die-closer 11 is moved downwardly the wedges 12 en.- gage with the rollers 23 thereby sliding the die-blocks 22 and dies 21 into grippingengagement about a tube B that is to be severed. When the portions 11?) move out of engagement with the rollers 23, the springs 29 carried by dies 21 expand and move the dies 21 and blocks 22 apart as shown in Figure 7. It will be understood that tubing and similar articles of various sizes and cross sectional I and shape for'dies 21 above described. Likewise by suitably adjusting the bushings in the blocks 22 the force with which the dies are clamped about the tube B or other article may be varied. The dies 21 of each pair are shown spaced apart from each other in the line of travel of. the tube B by an amount slightly greater than the thickness of the knife 13, and holders 22' have vertical slots 22a (Figure 7) of such width that knife 13 is permitted to move freely between the dies 21 and through the holders 22.

The rod 16a which is suitably supported at its rear end as by a pedestal carries a target adjustably secured thereto at any point corresponding to the length of severed tubing desired andis also provided at a point suitably selected with respect to the table 14 with a cam-engaging projection 31 which is positioned to ride up on the cam 32 fixed to the rear end of the table 14 so that when the rod is moving toward the front end of the ma-v 'ward end of plate 9 and engageable with member 31. As the press-head 6 descends the rod 33 engages with the member 31, first compressing the spring 33a in the rod 33, and

finally rotating the rod16a.

The press-head 6 carries a laterally projecting arm 34 which slidably receives a rod 35 adjustable as to length which is attached at its lower end to a crank 36, (Figure 7 secured to the moving element of a multipleway, air valve 37. The rod 35 is provided at a suitable point witha'V-shaped recess 38 into which a plunger 39 carried by the member 34 may be spring pressed. The moving element of the valve 37, in addition to carrying the crank 36, also carries a lever 40 which is engaged in certain position by a spring'pressed rod 41 carried by the carriage 18.

The valve 37 is connected with a suitable source of fluid under pressure, for example,

compressed air, and is, connected by suitable connections 42 and 43 to opposite ends of a cylinder 44, suitably disposed at the front end of the machine. The piston rod 45 is operatively associated at its rear end for lost motion with a suit-able yoke 46 carried by the rod 166. I

, The carriage 18 carries at one side thereof a pivoted arm 47 spring-pressed by spring 48 at one end and havin a roller engaging face 49 at the other en to engage with a roller 50 which is attached to the contactmaking member of an electrical switch 51 connected with the windings of a solenoid 52.

The upright 4 of the press carries a control or switch box 53 containing the remaining portions of the wiring shown in Figure 8. Certain leads from this box are connected to a switch 54, also carried by upright 4, and have a contact-making member equipped with a roller 55 positioned to engage with an adjustable member 56 carried by the head 6. A main line switch 59 inserted in the power line ahead of the boxes 51 and 53 controls the flow of electric current to these boxes.

The operation of the a paratus above described is subsantially as ollows:

When the parts of apparatus C are in the positions shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3 tubing B to be severed is passed rearwarly through the propelling rolls of machine A and between dies 21 until it strikes target 30. Thereafter it continues to move rearwardly at the same speed, carrying with it target 30, rods 16a and 16b, carriage 18, head plate 9 and the parts between plate 9 and carriage 18;

As the carriage 18 moves rearwardly on the table 14 the arm 47 engages the roller 50 thereby closing the switch 51 (Figure 8) and completing the circuit from themain power line X through the switch 51'and magnet Y to the other branch Z of the main power line. The magnet Y is thus energized and attracts the knife blades 60 and 61 in controller box 53 whereupon current flows from X thru '60, switches 51 and 54 and magnet Y. and also thru 60, solenoid 52 and 61. This solenoid 52 is provided with an iron core 57 slidable therein and secured at one end of a pivoted arm 57a to the other end of which the trip rod 58 of clutch 8 is attached. When the solenoid 52 is energized, the core 57 is attracted, thereby moving the arm 57a about its pivot and actuating the trip of clutch 8 thus operatively connecting the flywheel 7 with the crankshaft 5, thereby setting the head 6 in motion downwardly. The contact of arm 47 with roller 50 is momentary or of relatively short duration but continues sufiicienly long for the blades 60 and 61 to be actuated into closed position.

After the gears are meshed and the head 6 has moved down some distance, the member 56 moves roller 55 and breaks the connection in switch 54. As soon as the arm 47 moves beyond the roller 50the electrical connection through switch 51 is broken and as soon as roller 55 is actuated by member 56 switch 54 is opened. Thereupon magnet Y is deenergized and switches 60 and 61 are opened as by their own weight, springs or the like (not shown) and then the solenoid 52 is deenergized. This permits the arm 57a to resume its original position due to the weight of core 57- and through coincident movement of trip rod 58, insures a disengagement of the flywheel 7 and crankshaft 5 after a single complete rotation of the latter. The head 6 in moving downward brings the wedges 12 of portions 116 of die closer 11 into contact with the rollers 23 causing rotation of the rollers and movement of the dies 21 into gripping contact with the tube 13. Until the tube B is thus gripped by the members 21 all laterally movable parts of the device G are actuated solely by the tube B pushing against the target 30. As soon, however, as the members 21 grip aroundthe tube the application of moving force by the tube B to the laterally moving parts of the device C is largely transferred to and concentrated at the dies. 21. As the press-head 6 continues to move down-- wardly after closing the dies 21, the knife 13 contacts with the top of the tube B and cuts down through the tube thereby severing the same intermediate the ends of the dies 21. The telescoping rod 33 is of such a length that while it contacts with member 31 early in the down stroke of head 6 it does not exert sufficient force on member 31 to rotate rod 16a until after the knife 13 has severed the tube B, this turning movement carrying the target 30 away from the end of the tube B.

As the press-head 6 reaches or rises from the lower end of its stroke the plunger 39 seats in the recess 38 of rod so that when the press-head 6 moves upwardly it carries rod 35 with it thereby turning the moving part of valve 37. When the knife 13 clears the top of dies 21, the moving part of valve 37' admits air or other compressed fluid thru connection 42 into the rear end of cylinder 44 with the result that the piston therein is forced forwardly in the cylinder 44 carrying-with it the rods 16b and 16a and the laterally moving cut-off parts, thereby restor-' ing the same to their initial or starting position. It will be understood, however, that this forward movement of the rods 16b and 16a does not take place untilthe wedges 12 of the member 11 have cleared the rollers 23 and'permitted the springs 29 interposed between the holders 22 to spread the latter apart and release the tube B. The continuous rearward movement of the unsevered portionof the tube B forces the severedportion out of the dies 21, since target 30 is then not in its path, after which it may be delivered by'a suitable conveyor, slide or the like or manually to a truck, rack or the like where the severed portions are being collected.

When the head 6 has carried rod 35 up to the point where it is arrested by the stop in e the valve 37 engaging the moving element of the valve, the plunger 39 isunseated from notch 38, the head 6 continuing on .its upward stroke while the rod 35 remains in its topmost position until the laterally moving parts of device C have reached their extreme forward or initial position.

At approximately such time the front end of rod 41 engages lever 40 attached to the moving eletial or starting position as shown in Figures 5 and 7. Such rotation ofthe said element cuts off'the supply of fluid pressure t-hru connection 42 to cylinder 44, then opens the exhaust port to allow the fluid in the rear end of cylinder 44 to escape, and finally admits fluid pressure through connection 43 to the cylinder which moves the piston to the rear end of the cylinder which is its-initial or starting position.

After the head 6 has risen far enough for rod 33 to exert little or no pressure on member 31, this member engages with cam 32 as rod 16a moves forwardly and the cam rotates rod 16a and target 30 into the initial or starting position; As head 6 rises member 56 moves relative to roller 55 and permits the making of contact in the switch 54; and then arm 47 passes beneath roller 50 into position to make contact in switch 51 as aforedescribed.

It will be understood from the foregoing description and the attached drawings that I have provided a cut-off device that may be characterized as relating to the punch-press type but in which the parts to be moved by the travelling tube to be severed are so light and mounted for suchfree movement that they offer substantially no hindrance to the free continuous forward movement of the unsevered tube. Moreover, the solenoid and the clutch are not only positively actuated but are positively'controlled by means of the switches 51 and 54 so that only one revolution of the press-head is permitted while the tubing is moving, regardless of the speed of travel of the tubing. Rearward movement of all the moving parts of the cut-off device is controlled by movement of the tube B direct-1y and without the interposition of control-devices which require careful adjustment and attention.

The device described hereinabove includes a press with a certain lengthof stroke which determines the positions of the cutter 13, as more or less accurately shown in the drawings. It will be understood, however, that ,when a press with a shorter stroke is employed the cutter'will not extend so far past the tube nor be raised so hi ghthereabove and hencethe invention may be adapted to use with tubing traveling at high rates of speed and to the cutting. of short lengths.

Having thus. described my invention so that others skilled in the art may be enabled to practice the same what I desire to secure by Letters Patent is defined in what is claimed:

WVhat is claimed is 1. Apparatus for severing moving articles comprising means for forcibly impelling in an axial direction an article of indefinite length, in combination with flying cut-off mecha nism forcutting successively predetermined uuiform lengths from the end of said article without interrupting the movement thereof, said cut-off mechanism including a member movable by and disengageable from the said article, a carriage connected with said member and carrying article clamping dies, an article cutter mounted on said carriage and astationary device having a reciprocating part imtially actuated by axial movement of the carriage and connected to the said cutter. to actuate the latter across the line of travel ofthe article.

* 2. Apparatus for severin moving articles comprising means for forcibly impelling in an axial direction an article of indefinite length, in combination with flying cut-ofli' mechanism for cutting successively predetermined uniform lengths from the end of said article without interrupting the movement thereof, said mechanism including a member engageable withand movable by the said article, a carriage connected to and movable by said member and carrying article clamping dies, an article cutter movable by and with said carriage, and a stationary press having a reciprocating head connected to the said cuttertoactuate the same across the line of travel of the article.

3. Apparatus for severing moving articles comprising means for forcibly impelling in an axial direction an article of indefinite length, in combination with flying cut-off mechanism for cutting successively predetermined uniform lengths from the end of said article without interrupting the movement thereof, said mechanism including a member engageable with and disengageable from and movable by the said article, a carriage movable by said member, an article cutter operatively associated with said carriage for movement with and also relative thereto, and a stationary press having a reciprocating head operatively connected to the said cutter to actuate the same across the line of travel of the article.

4. Apparatus for severing moving articles comprising means for forcibly impelling in an axial direction an article of indefinite length, in combination with flying cut-ofl? mechanism for cutting successively predetermined uniform lengths from the said article without interruptingthe movement thereof, said mechanism including a carriage movable in directions parallel of the line of movement of the said article, dies carried by the said carriage for clamping about the said article, a cutter movable across the article intermediate the ends of the said dies,"and a stationary device having a reciprocating part operatively connected to the said cutter to actuate the same to sever the article intermediate the ends of the dies.

' 5. Apparatus for severin moving articles, comprising means for forcibly impelling in an axial direction an article of indefinite length, in combination with flying cut-off cutter to move the same across the line of travel of the said article intermediate the ends of the dies..

6. Apparatus for severing moving articles,

comprising means for forcibly impelling in an axial direction an article ofi'ndefinite length, in combination with flying cut-off mechanism for cutting successively predetermined uniform lengths from the end of the said article without interrupting the movement thereof, said mechanism including a target disposed in the line of'travel of the said article, a rotatable and'axially moving rod carrying the said target, a carriage connected to the said rod, article clamping dies carried by the said carriage, an article cutter movable across the line of travel of the article, means to rotate the rod and target out of the line of travel of the article after the cutter has severed the latter, and stationary means carrying reciprocating mechanism for actuating the cutter across the path of the article.

7. Apparatus for severing moving articles, comprising means for forcibly impelling in an axial direction an article of indefinite length, in combination with flying cut-off target disposed in the line of travel of the said article, a rotatable and axially movable rod carrying the said target, a carriage connected to the said rod, article clamping dies carried by the said carriage, an article cutter movable across the line of travel of the article and intermediate the ends of the dies, and a stationary device having a reciprocating part operatively connected to the said cutter to move the same across the line of travel of the said article intermediate the ends of the dies.

8. Apparatus for severing moving articles, comprising means for forcibly impelling in an axial direction an article of indefinite length, in combination with flying cut-off mechanism for cutting successvely predetermined uniform lengths from the cud of the said article without interrupting the movement thereof, said mechanism including a target rotatable into and out of the line of travel of the said article, a rotatable rod movable in a direction parallel 'to the line of veliofthe article and carrying the target,

lampin g dies carried bythesaid carriage, an rt-icle cutter movable across the line of travel line of travel of the said article.

= 9; Apparatus for severlng moving articles comprising means for forcibly impelling in axial direction an article of indefinite length, in combination with flying cut-off mechanism for cutting successively predetermined uniform lengths from the end of said article without interrupting the movement thereof, said mechanism including a target, means for moving the target into and out of the line of travelof the article, a movable carriage connected to the said target and movable therewith in directions parallel to the line of travel of the article, article clamping dies on the carriage, an. article cut-ter movable with the article and also movable transverse- 1y thereof, a stationary press having areciprocating head operatively connected to the said cutter toactuate-the latter across the line of travel of the article intermediate the ends of the dies, and means operable after the cutter has severed the article for restoring the said target and carriage to their initial positions.

10. A flying cut-off for axially moving metallic tubing comprising a stationary press having a reciprocating head, a tube cutter movable with and relative to the said head,

' dies for clamping the tubing, means including the reciprocating head for moving the cutter across the tube at the point where the tube is to be severed, means operatively associated with the said cutter-and tube for transmitting axial motion of the tube to and moving the cutter relative to the said reciprocating. head, and means operable durin the return stroke of the reciprocating hea to its initial position for moving the said outter relative to the head and opposite to the line of travel of the said tube to the initial'or startin position.

11. flying cut-01f for axially moving metallic tubing comprisinga stationary press having a reciprocating head, a tube cutter movable with and relative to the said head, dies for clamping the tubing, a movable car.- riage supporting the said dies, means including the reciprocating head for moving the cutter across the tube at a point where the tube is to be severed, means includin guide members carried by the carriage and operatively associated with the said cutter for transmitting axial movement of the tube to and movin the cutter .relative to the said reciprocating ead, and means operable during the return stroke of the reciprocatin head to its initial position for moving the sai t the article and a stationary device having a" i reciprocating part operatlvely connected to 'the'said cutter to move the same-across the cutter relative to the head opposite to the line oftravel of the saidtube to its initial or starting position. A

.12. A flying cut-ofi' for axially moving 1 metallic tubing comprising astationary press havin a reciprocating head, a tube cutter .movab e with and relative to the said head,

dies for clamping the tubing, a movable carriage supporting the said dies, means including the reciprocating head for moving the cutter across the tube at apoint where the tube is to be severed, means including guides supported by the said carriage and die closers carried by the head andoperatively associated with the said cutter for transmitting movement thereof axially of the tube to and moving the cutter relative to said reciprocating head, and means operable during the return stroke of the reciprocating head to its initial position for moving the said cutter relative to the head and opposite to the line of travel of the said tube to its initial or starting position.

13. A flying cut-off for axially moving metallic tubing comprising a stationary press having a reciprocating head, a tube cutter movable with and relative to the said head, dies for clamping the tubing, means including the reciprocating head for moving the cutter across the tube at the point where the r' tube is to be severed, means operativelyhssociated with the said cutter and tube for transmitting axial motion of the tube to and moving the cutter relative to the said reciprocating head, and fluid pressure means operable during the return stroke of the reciprocating head to its initial position for moving the said cutter relative to the head and opposite to the line of travel of the said tube to the initial or starting position.

14. A flying cut-01f for axially moving metallic tubing comprising a stationary press havmg a reciprocating head, a tube cutter movable with and relative to the said head, dies for clamping the tubing, means including the reciprocating head for moving the cutter across the tube at the point where the tube is to be severed, means operatively assoc1ated with the said cutter and tube for transmitting axial motion of the tube to and moving-the cutter relative to the said reciprocating head, and fluid pressure means including moving parts operable during the return stroke of the reciprocating head to its initialposition for moving the said cutter relative to the head and opposite to the line of travel of the said tube to the initial or starting po s ition,-.the moving parts of the said axially moving metallic tu g'comprisinga stationary press 7 tube is to be severed, means operatively associated with the said cutter and tube for transmitting axial motion of the tube to and moving the cutter relative to the said reciprocati'ng head, a cylinder'having a pistonoperatively associated with the last said means, a.

multiple way valve connected to'the said cylinder for admitting. fluid under pressure into the latter to actuate the said piston in either direction .and means carried by the said head for actuating the said valve, the cylinder, piston, valve and the last said means cooper ating during the return stroke of the head to its initial position tormove the cutter relative to the head'and opposie to the line oftravel of the said tube, and to return the cutter to its initial or starting position, these said parts cooperating after the said head has reached its starting position andwhile it is stationary therein for moving the piston to its starting position in the cylinder.

16.- A fl ing cut-off for axially moving metallic tu ing comprising a stationary press having a reciprocating head, a tube cutter movable with the said head across the line of travel of an axially moving tube and movable relative to the head in directions with and opposite to the travel of the said tube, dies on opposite sides of the said cutter and movable therewith, means for clamping the said dies about the tube during the movement of the cutter transversely across the tube, and means for restoring the cutter and the dies to their initial position.

17. A fl ing cut-off for axially moving metallic tubing comprising a stationary press having a reciprocating head, a tube cutter operatively associated with the said head and 'reciprocable across axially moving tubing to be severed, means movable in directions parallel to the line of travel of the said tubing and including dies adapted to clamp about the tubing, the said means being operativ-ely associated with the said cutter for moving the latter relative to the said head, means actuated by the said tubing for actuating the dies, and fluid pressure means for moving the dies and cutter in the direction opposite the line of travel of the said tubing.

18. A flying cut-oflt' for axially moving metallic tubing comprising a stationary press having a reciprocating head carrying a tube a cutter movable therewith and relative thereto, a movable carriage having tube clamping means connected thereto, means for transmitting axial movement of thetube to be severed to the said carriage, and electrical means actuated by movement'of the said carriage for causin the reciprocation of the said head.

19; flying cut-ofl for axially moving articles comprising a stationary press having a reciprocatin head carrying an article cutter movable t erewith and relative thereto, article clamping means, means for transmitting axial movement of the article to be severed to the said clamping means and electrical means actuated when the end of the article to be severed has travelled a predetermined distance beyond the cutter for causing a single complete stroke of the said head.

20. A flying cut-ofl' for axially moving articles comprising a stationary press having a reciprocating head carrying an article cutter movable therewith and relative thereto, article clamping means, means for transmitting axial movement of the article to be severed to the said clamping means and cutter and fluid pressure means actuated when the said tube clamping means and cutter have traveled a predetermined distance for causing reciprocation of the clamping means and cutter to their initial positions in a direction opposite to the travel of the said article.

21. A flying cut-ofi for axially moving articles comprising a stationary press having a reciprocating head carrying an article cutter movable therewith and relative thereto, article clamping means connected thereto, means for transmitting axial movement of the article to be severed to the said clamping means and electrical means actuated by movement of the said carriage for synchroniz'ing the reciprocation of the head and movement of the cutter relative thereto while the tubing is in motion.

22. A flying cut-oft for axially moving articles comprising a stationary press having a reciprocable head, a cutter movable with the head transversely across an axially moving article to be severed and relative to the head longitudinally of the said article, means actuated by axial movement of the article for moving the head and the cutter relative to the head, and means actuated after the cutter has moved across and cleared the tube for moving the cutter to its initial position and relative to the head.

23. A flying cut-oil for axially moving articles comprising a stationary press having areciprocable head, a cutter movable with the head transversely across an axially moving article to be severed and relatlve to the head longitudinally of the said article, means actuated by axial movement of the article for moving the head and the cutter relative to the head, and fluid pressure means actuated by the head after the cutter has tuated by axial mvoement of the article for moving the head and the cutter relative to the head, and fluid pressure means including a pistonjand cylinder .0 eratively associated with the said cutter an actuated when the cutter has moved across and cleared the article for moving the cutter to its initial position and relative to the head.

' 25. A flying cut-oil for axially moving articles comprising a stationary press having a reciprocable head, a cutter movable with the head transversely across an axially moving article to be severed and relative to the head longitudinally of the said article, means actuated by axial movement of the article for moving the head and the cutter relative to the head, a cylinder and piston operatively associated with the said cutter for moving the latter longitudinally in a direction optube to be severed and relative to the head longitudinally of the said tube, in and also opposite to the direction of travel of the said tube, means for causing reciprocation of the head and movement of the cutter transversely across the said tube, means for moving the posite to the travel of the article, and a multiple way valve adapted to control the application of fluid pressure to the said cylinder and piston, said cylinder, piston and valve cooperating to move the cutter to its initial position and relative to the head after the cutter has moved across and cleared the tube.

26. A flying cut-ofl for axially moving articles comprising a stationary press having a reciprocable head, a cutter movable with the head transversely across an axially moving article to be severed and relative to the head longitudinally of the said article, means actuated by axial movement of the article for moving the head and the cutter relative to thehead, a cylinder, a piston operatively associated with the cutter therein, and a multiple way valve operable by the said head after the cutter has moved across and cleared the article to admit fluid pressure into the said cylinder, to move the cutter to -its initial position and relative to the head.

27. A flying cut-0R "for axially moving articles comprising a stationary press having a reciprocable head, a cutter movable with the head transversely across an axially moving article to be severed and relative to the head longitudinally of the said article, means: actuated by axial movement of the article for moving the cutter relative to and with the head, a cylinder, a piston therein operatively associated through a lost motion connection tiple way valve operable when the cutter has moved across and cleared the article to admit fluidpressure into the said cylinder to move the cutter to its initial position and relative .to the head and means for actuating the valve after the cutter has been returned to and while it is in its initial position to admit head transversely across an axially moving with the cutter actuating means, and a mul-' 7 

